Twice-convicted Canadian murderer found guilty of killing his father from whom he inherited millions

Justice Maureen Forestell handed down her decision in Ontario Superior Court in Toronto on Monday, saying Dellen Millard carried out a "planned and deliberate killing" of his father.

"I am satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that Dellen Millard killed his father by shooting him in the left eye as he slept," the judge said.

During this trial, court heard that Mr. Millard had been unhappy about the way his father was running the family business, Millardair Inc. Wayne had recently had a 55,000-square-foot air hangar built at the Region of Waterloo International airport, where he hoped to convert their airplane-storage company into a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) business.

MANDEL: Dellen Millard a serial killer after conviction for murdering his dad

Slumped over in the prisoner's box, Millard softly cried as the judge gave her decision. For much of the almost two-hour hearing, Forestell seemed to be siding with the defence on many issues, calling into question the reliability of some witness testimony and saying the crime scene where Wayne Millard's body was found had been disturbed by first responders.

It was Dellen who had supposedly come across the body after staying at a friends house the night before. But instead of calling police, he called his mother – despite the fact that his parents had been divorced for more than a decade. It was only after she arrived at her ex-husbands house that 911 was called.

Then toward the end of her 36-page decision, Forestell began talking about Millard's "false alibi" — that he spent the night his father died back in 2012 at the home of his friend, Mark Smich. That's when Millard's jaw dropped, and he stared at her from the prisoner's box, aghast.

The Millard family must live with the fact that this heinous individual murdered his own father.- Clayton Babcock , Laura Babcock's fatherAs he was led out of the courtroom in shackles, many people in the courtroom broke out into applause.

Justice Maureen Forestell, who oversaw Mr. Millards month-long trial in June, ruled Monday that the 33-year-old Toronto man had committed the planned and deliberate killing of his father six years ago – going so far as to set up a fake alibi to fool police.

The Crown said it will be seeking a consecutive life sentence in the case. Sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 16.

For all those out there who believe that the sentence of an additional 25 years to Mr. Millards 50 years is too harsh, we say you havent dealt with this kind of sorrow. We live with a cloud of sadness and loss over us every day, he said.

Assistant Crown attorney Ken Lockhart told reporters outside the courthouse that the decision marks the end of a very long process.

In 2016, he – along with his friend Mark Smich – was found guilty of murdering Tim Bosma, a 32-year-old Ancaster dad who went missing on May 6, 2013, after taking the two men on a test drive of the pickup truck he was selling online.

"We're very grateful for the many people who put in a lot of time, effort and heartache into these prosecutions," he said.

And last fall, he and Mr. Smich were found guilty of murdering Laura Babcock, a 23-year-old Toronto woman who disappeared in July, 2012 – months after Mr. Millards girlfriend found out they had been sleeping together.

The judge's decision caps off a winding journey through the courts for Millard, 33, who has already been convicted of two other first-degree murders — the deaths of Hamilton man Tim Bosma and Toronto woman Laura Babcock.

Dellen Millard has been found guilty of first-degree murder for a third time – in this case, for the death of his father, whose November, 2012, shooting was originally deemed a suicide by police.

Babcock's father, Clayton, spoke outside the courthouse while flanked by his wife, Linda, and Bosma's parents, Hank and Mary.

Police realized then that his alibi did not check out, and that the gun had been purchased illegally by Mr. Millard from a gun dealer months earlier. His DNA was on the grip.

"It's been proven that not only did the Bosmas and ourselves lose a loved one, the Millard family must live with the fact that this heinous individual murdered his own father," Babcock said.

Wayne Millard was found in bed with a bullet through his left eye on Nov. 29, 2012. A Smith and Wesson .32 revolver was found on top of a shopping bag next to the bed.

"For all those out there who believe that the sentence of an additional 25 years to Mr. Millard's 50 years is too harsh, we say you haven't dealt with this kind of sorrow. We live with a cloud of sadness and loss over us every day. Like all people who have lost a close loved one through tragedy, there'll be not a day in our lives where the loss of Laura, Tim or Wayne won't be felt."

The death was ruled a suicide. But when Dellen Millard was charged with first-degree murder in the death of a total stranger a year later, the case was reopened.

Millard's third trial was held in front of a judge alone, as Ontario's attorney general agreed that the Toronto man's previous high-profile trials would make it difficult to find fair jurors. Closing submissions marked the end of evidence at the three-week trial on June 22.

Outside the courthouse Monday, Crown attorney Ken Lockhart thanked the investigators and noted the verdict marked the end of a long saga for multiple families.

Wayne Millard's death was originally ruled a suicide. He was found at his home at 5 Maple Gate Crt. in the Toronto suburb of Etobicoke on Nov. 29, 2012, after he was shot in the eye. At the time, Dellen Millard was living at his father's home.

He wasn't charged in his father's death until 2014, after police started investigating the slayings of both Bosma, a husband and father from the Ancaster area of Hamilton, and Babcock, a Toronto woman who had been involved with Millard.

He saw it as a legacy for his son. But Dellen wanted no part of it – and did not want his father pouring their money into a floundering business.

Outside court, Det. Mike Carbone of the Toronto Police Service refused to answer questions about how the investigation unfolded at the outset, when police and the coroner originally determined Wayne Millard shot himself.

On Monday, as Justice Forestell read out her decision, Mr. Millard hung his head in the prisoners box. Applause broke out in the courtroom.

"I'm not going to comment on whether or not it would have prevented any other investigations, because we really don't know," he said.

Those sentences are being served consecutively, meaning it will be 50 years before the men are eligible for parole. Both have filed appeals.

Once the case was reopened, investigators discovered that Millard's DNA was on the gun used to shoot his father, and his cell phone had pinged off of nearby cell towers around the time it's believed Wayne died.

Were very grateful for the many people who put in a lot of time, effort and heartache into these prosecutions, he told reporters.

The Crown argued that Dellen shot his father to escape a legacy and business being built for him that he didn't want, as his father was building an aviation business with family funds.

The Crown is seeking a consecutive sentence in this case as well. A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for Nov. 16.

"Not a single witness came before this court and suggested there was any discord between Mr. Millard and his father," said his lawyer, Ravin Pillay. "There is nothing in the record before you that supports this one way or another."

Pillay did not speak to reporters after the judge's decision. Millard is appealing his conviction in both the Bosma and Babcock murders.

Adam Carter is a Newfoundlander who now calls Hamilton home. He enjoys a good story and playing loud music in dank bars. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamCarterCBC or drop him an email at [email protected]

This is the 33-year-olds third first-degree murder conviction after three trials in as many years.

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TORONTO — A Toronto man accused of killing his father, whose death was originally deemed a suicide, has been found guilty of first-degree murder.

Dellen Millard, 33, had pleaded not guilty in the death of 71-year-old Wayne Millard, who was found in his bed with a bullet to the head on Nov. 29, 2012.

Justice Maureen Forestell, who heard the case without a jury, said Dellen Millard carried out a planned and deliberate murder of his father.

“I am satisfied that Dellen Millard killed his father by shooting him in the left eye as he slept, she said, drawing applause from some gathered in a Toronto courtroom on Monday. “I can find no theory consistent with innocence.